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Published: September 10th 2006
Obninsk Welcome Sign
One of the Obninsk\'s welcome signs.Okay, I know it has been awhile, but I really have not had much to update you with so decided not to waste your time, but after this weekend, I have a bunch of stuff to tell. I could not decide what to name the title for this one because I had so many things to tell so I just called it what it was, "so much too tell." I think most of you know this was the weekend I was invited to the US Embassy to watch the Ohio State football game so I decided to just spend the weekend in Moscow. As oppose to jumping around, which I am sure I will do anyway, I will just start from the beginning.
On Friday, I stopped by the "Drunk Cafe" for a quick bite to eat. They are getting to know me about like they did at Applebee's because she now has my Diet Coke ready for me when I come in. However, I bet you can buy gift certificates for the cafe like you can for Applebee's....lol After a quick bite to eat, I ran home and made my buckeyes. They looked great until I tried getting them
Obninsk Welcome Sign
One of the Obninsk's welcome signs. off the plate on Saturday morning and everyone of them stuck so I had double "tan" buckeyes, if you turned them upside down. But the nice part, they were all flat so did not roll around...lol I will get to the Embassy, but the buckeyes were a big hit at the party. I was not the only one to make them and Kim's also stuck to her plate. She made smaller ones, but to be honest, I think mine tasted better. I think it was Jetta's secret about adding vanilla to it, which I had that vanilla flavored powder sugar, which I think added that extra touch.
After packing, I headed to bed. My driver asked if he could take his dad along with us and we also picked up Michael's translator, Gaukhar, becuase she wanted to go shopping in Moscow so we had a full car. I think Mesha brought his dad to help navigate because he was not real familar with Moscow. They both did a good job, but what is getting bad is that I am starting to know my way around and which roads they should be taking....lol We dropped Gaukhar off at Mega and
Naro-Fominsk
This is the welcome sign for Naro-fominsk, the town where the plant is located. headed to the flea market that I wanted to go to. We get there and I had no idea how big it was. I had to go to the bathroom so bad, I just headed out from the car after getting the plan with Mesha as to when we would meet where since he and his dad also wanted to shop the market. Well, stupid me, I was in such a rush for a bathroom, I forgot to check for landmarks and GOT LOST! I am not joking. I was so embarrassed. I had told Mesha two hours and it was almost four hours later. This place is huge and is not square so I could not even walk around the outside. I would hate to adventure how big it is, but it would take you several days if you walked it all. I started to notice it was divided into sections so all of the shoes were in the same type area, jeans in another, coats, etc. I am not sure I would really call it a flea market because everything we new, but that would be the best description of it.
I was hoping to find gifts
Auchan
This is one of our larger (also a pain in the butt) customer, but where I can find most things I need/want. there for people, but either I did not find the gifts section or that is not the place to get them. I did find the live market though...ugh! Yes, live chickens, ducks, fish (all kinds), pigs that would be killed right there. I hate to see this place in the middle of summer. They had everything and anything in terms of pieces of animals. Probably more than I want to know, but it was interesting to walk it even though I was lost. Being lost sort of took the fun out of it, but I did have to stop and just look when I found the live market area. Of course no one spoke English so I called Gaukhar and got her out of the movie she was watching and asked her to call Mesha and ask for some tall landmarks near the car so I could aim in the right direction. To make matters worse, better I guess since it was raining, most of the places are covered so I really could not see the land marks until I got to one end of the building or another. After Gaukhar called me back with the landmark, I still could
KFC
This is KFC, but under their Russian name, Rostics who is doing the audit next week by YUM Brand. not see them so I called and gave her a few of what I could see. Well about that time, even before she called me back, I walked out on the street where we parked, which is when I saw the landmarks Mesha gave. They were on the opposite side I was on so I could not see them. It was a great feeling to find Mesha and the car, but all I could do is laugh. I knew Mesha was not going to leave until I got there, but it was a scary feeling not being able to communicate and being lost!
The whole thing was interesting. If any of you come to visit, I will have to take you just to see it to get a feel for it. It is packed with people and everyone is wheeling and dealing. Everyone told me do not pay the original price, always offer about half and then go from there depending on how much I wanted something. Not being able to speak Russian, I did not neogiate and just looked and watched that is when I was not run over by the bundles of stuff. There were hundreds of
Pizza Hut
Can you figure it out by the letters and/or logo? people running these huge wheel barrel type equipment with four or five bundles of stuff on them. I bet these guys were moving at least 1000 pounds of stuff because it would take two or three to lift just one bundle. Once they got moving, they did not stop, no matter who was in their way.
There were also hundreds of "street vendors" pushing carts selling peanuts, fruits, juices, hot drinks, bread, etc. Theywere not very clean looking, the people or the carts, but it was interesting. A lot of people were buying from them so I am sure it made it worth their time. Oh, I forgot to tell you, yes, I did find the toilet, but cost me 7p ($0.25) to get in and I was handed a certain "allotment" of paper that I am guessing was toilet paper had I needed it, which would not have been enough, but worked well to dry my hands....lol
We then headed off to my hotel. I stayed at the Courtyard near the Kremlin. It was ideally located to just about everything and for its location was not badly priced at $215. Yes, that is expensive, but for that
Star Bucks
Not really, but this is what we have that compares. I have not drank any coffee there yet, but thought I would share a picture of it. location and level of service, most people would have to pay close to $500, if not more. It is crazy how much hotels are in Moscow. I picked this once because of its location to the Embassy and price. I got checked in and took a nap. After my nap, I ventured on the metro to a place my tour guide took me last time I was in town, to the Red Line. I do not know what it is, but I really like that place. They play great music, have a great wait staff and the food is good as well. They had a live sax player later in the evening which was a nice touch and my waiter spoke English. I did not realize this the last time I was there, but they even have an English menu which was nice as well. I had a "normal" garden salad, asparagus (cooked perfectlly with shaved cheese on it), and veal stuffed with mushrooms. Umm, was it good. Yes, it was a little pricey, but I like that place.
If you are going to go with me on the metro, please do not be in a hurry. Although I
Another Mall
I have not been in this one, but this is a mall more like ones we have in the US. have not missed a stop yet, I have missed a few trains double checking that I am going in the correct direction and exactly how many stops I need to make before getting off. It takes me a lot longer than I would like for it, but I am getting by on it. I still do not always exit where I want to onto the street, but have not missed a stop, yet.
After Red Line, I then headed to a few of the bars near the hotel. I honestly did not like any of them. Some were so smokey, you coud not see to the other side while others had high cover charge and steep priced drinks so I think I will just stay in Obninsk as oppose to going to Moscow to the bars. There are a few clubs I have heard about that are suppose to be pretty good so we will see. I know I will be back to Moscow to see them sometime, but no hurry.
Before it got too late, I decided I had better get back to the hotel to get some sleep before Eric picked me up for the football
Lumberyard Market
We do not really have lumber yards, but lumberyard markets. It is amzaing seeing these cargo containers that are "stores". They just open the doors, winter or summer, and see out of the cargo container. game, which I did. That 2:30 AM alarm clock came way too soon, but I got up and got dressed. Eric was running a little behind, but it did not bother me because it was pouring that morning and cold so I happily waited on him.
How about those BUCKS?!?! We made some pretty hamburgers out of those Texas Longhorns! Did anyone else watch the game? Besides the Buckeyes winning, I had a great time at the Embassy with the fans (14 of us in total, 11 Buckeyes, some in full gear/uniform, 1 Texas fan, and two neutral there to cheer on who ever was winning..lol). Eric kept telling me they rented out Uncle Sam, which is one of the bars in the Embassy. Everyone had to pitch in $5 to cover the cost of the bartender, which I thought was great. I also really like the price of Jack Daniels at the Embassy, a whooping $3 for a double pour! For that price, I will have my driver bring me there more often, if I could get in!
It was a weird feeling being there. There were several id checks and verifications but it was not too
Member Your Younger Days
This looks like a large lincohn logs. bad. Seeing those huge iron gates in front of this awesome looking building and seeing our military personal wondering around, made me feel like a prisioner, but in a positive way. I honestly felt safe and could let my guard down even though I was in the middle of Moscow. I did not realize how "tense" I was when wondering around town, but I honestly felt like I was in the US while on the compound, which is what they call it. It is so hard to explain. Everything was in English, everyone was American, all of these "normal" American things around you, made you feel at home and seeing all of the guards, I just felt so safe, but literally in the middle of another country. It may be more in my head than anything because I do not feel unsafe outside of the compound, but I guess in a lot ways I am a lot more cautious than I would be if I were in the US.
It was interesting to hear about the history. Do not quote my dates or numbers as it was 3 AM this morning and I may not have all of my
facts correct, but this Embassy was built at this location in 1990; but then completely torn down because the entire place was bugged. They said they found bugging devices everywhere from the toilets, to the wiring, to lights, etc. so they tore the entire place down and imported everything, including the labor from the US. They say even today, nothing is considered safe/confidential unless you are in "the vaults." I am assuming this is some top secret place where high level people meet. I did not ask a lot of questions, but hope to go back and get more of a tour and ask more questions. It was dark but Eric said they have swimming pools; tennis, volleyball, basketball and racketball courts; weight rooms; gift shops; American grocery stores and the compound houses something like 150 people, but there are over 300 Americans living/working there so the other half have to find housing outside of the compound.
The game was a lot of fun and there some real die hard fans there. I cheered but not quite like some of them. My Russian buckeyes were a big hit and Eric really liked the platter my parents sent. So again,
Church Near Hotel
I do not know the name and it is not a famous one, but I thought you might like to see it. thanks Jetta for the idea and thanks Mom and Dad for getting the platter sent. Several of the people invited me to stay with them next time as oppose to renting a hotel room. I am hoping all of the next big games are much earlier, like noon kick off, so I can watch it in the evening and get home late as oppose to getting up so early. I am paying for it today. I got home and took a nap and will be heading to bed here shortly, but I feel my cold coming back. Hopefully I can get enough sleep over the next couple of days and fight it off.
On the way home I took a lot of pictures. I do not know what most of them area, but I thought you might want to see some of the buildings, traffic, etc.
I also must thank Lorraine for the garlic. After I got home, I made an early dinner/late lunch and had speghatti and her garlic cloves she sent were perfect! Thank you! Also, one last funny and I will post the pictures and publish. Some time ago, Jetta sent me a recipe for
Church Near Hotel1
I do not know the name and it is not a famous one, but I thought you might like to see it. Russian cake. It is one you have to add yeast, let it rise, etc. well last week I was that Dom de Doma (the market across the street from me) and found what I thought was yeast. Even though I was not going to bake this weekend, I am glad I opened the package to confirm the contents, it was not yeast, it was vanilla. I thought I was going to be so proud of myself. The outer package had all kinds of rolls on the front, it was a small light weight package with small granuals in it so whatelse could it be....lol Yes, it was dried vanilla. Oh well, I tried and it only cost me 2 rubles.
I hope everyone else had a great weekend. I am not sure what work has in store for me this coming week, but I know we have our internal Summer Olymics for Elinar-Holding (the parent company to Elinar-Broiler) where we compete against the other Elinar holding companies. I am cheering everyone on and thankfully not playing. I did sign up for volleyball, but they did call me so I assume they did not need me then Sunday I plan
Different Church
I do not know the name and it is not a famous one, but I thought you might like to see it. to go to Moscow to get the Christmas gifts I was planning on getting while at the flea market before getting lost.
Speaking of volleyball, that is going better. I have the basic muscles back into shape. I am still sore the next day, but at least I can move and it does not hurt, just sore. I am also becoming more accepted as I get my grove back to the game. It has just been too many years since I played, I sort of lost my skills. I also impressed them with my setting so they have me setting. Maybe I did not impress them with setting, but I set better than I hit so I am more valuable to them in a different position...lol
Take care and thanks for all of the notes and support. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
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Gale
non-member comment
I don't know how you do it, I would've been absolutely petrified if I had gotten lost in a foreign country. As interesting as the buildings there look to be they still have an ominous look to them. It may be the grey skies and clouds above them but the gloom and doom effect is definitely there from this side of the pictures. I'm glad you found the Embassy comforting, at least you have somewhere to go should you ever feel you need it, even though I'm sure you won't. It's a good thing to make friends with other American Buckeye fans there though, at least you have someone to root your team on with and speak English with. Take care and keep writing, nothing is boring! You are missed.